Question 1

Which of these is NOT one of the four structural factors that are shaping today's political system in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Changes in presidential powers are not typically considered a structural factor shaping the political system; the other options are more directly related to structural changes.

Question 2

What is the process called by which individuals come to have certain core beliefs and political attitudes?

Accepted Answer

Political socialization is the process by which individuals come to adopt the attitudes, values, beliefs, and opinions of the political culture in which they live. This process typically includes various sources of influence such as family, school, media, religious institutions, and peer groups. Through this process, individuals develop their core political values and attitudes that shape their behavior and decision-making in the political arena. Therefore, political socialization is the most accurate term to describe the process by which individuals come to have certain core beliefs and political attitudes.

Question 3

Public opinion's opposition to big federal government programs to redistribute income falls under which level of the analytic framework when discussing the persistence of poverty?

Accepted Answer

Public opinion and political attitudes towards government intervention and redistribution policies fall under the political linkage level of the analytic framework. This level looks at the attitudes, beliefs, and values of individuals and groups towards poverty and inequality, and how these attitudes are linked to political behavior and policy outcomes. The structural level focuses on economic and social structures that contribute to poverty, while the governmental level looks at the role of institutions and policies in addressing poverty. The governmental action level focuses on specific policies and programs, while the system level looks at broader societal and global factors that contribute to poverty.

Question 4

Which of these types of employees accounts for the greater percentage of today's American workers?

Accepted Answer

The service sector has become the largest employment sector in the United States, accounting for around 80% of total employment, and most service sector jobs are white-collar jobs. Therefore, it's safe to say that A) white-collar and service employees account for the greater percentage of today's American workers.

Question 5

These are all conditions that are required to produce popular sovereignty, political equality, and liberty EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

All the options (A through D) are indeed conditions that contribute to the production of popular sovereignty, political equality, and liberty. None of them is an exception to this requirement.

Question 6

Which of these was NOT an occurrence in the 1990s that served to heighten the United States' power in the world?

Accepted Answer

While the switch to democracies in Latin America was a positive development, it did not directly contribute to the United States' power in the world in the same way as the other occurrences listed. The collapse of communism in eastern Europe, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the switch to a market economy in China, and the embrace of privatization in developing countries all served to increase the United States' power and influence on the world stage.

Question 7

Which was NOT one of the reasons that industrial enterprises grew to unprecedented size in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

Accepted Answer

While the rise of labor unions did impact the workforce and industrial relations, it was not a reason for the unprecedented growth of industrial enterprises. The other options (B, C, D, E) all played significant roles in the growth of huge industrial enterprises during this period.

Question 8

What is the natural outcome of the United States' history of immigration?

Accepted Answer

The natural outcome of the United States' history of immigration is substantial racial and ethnic diversity in the American population. Throughout its history, the United States has been a melting pot of cultures, with waves of immigration from different parts of the world. This has resulted in a diverse population, with people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds living together and sharing their cultures. Today, the United States is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world.

Question 9

The belief that a person's fate can be closely attributed to his or her own efforts is known as

Accepted Answer

Individualism is the belief that an individual's actions and efforts can determine their own success or failure, rather than external factors such as luck or fate. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and self-reliance. In contrast, fatalism posits that events are predetermined and that one's efforts have little impact on the outcome. Populism, equality, and republicanism are political ideologies that do not directly relate to the belief in personal agency.

Question 10

What is the basic market theory worked out by Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations?

Accepted Answer

Adam Smith's basic market theory, as outlined in The Wealth of Nations, is that the market is efficient and effective if left alone, and that government intervention should be limited in order to promote economic growth and prosperity. Smith believed that self-interest and competition in the marketplace would lead to greater efficiency, innovation, and wealth creation for society as a whole.

Question 11

The poverty rate in the United States remains

Accepted Answer

The poverty rate in the United States is substantially higher than in other rich democracies, indicating that there is still room for improvement in addressing poverty in the country.

Question 12

What event caused the United States to emerge as a world superpower?

Accepted Answer

World War II had a significant impact on the world and the United States emerged as a world superpower after the war. The U.S. economy, having been largely untouched by the destruction of the war, grew rapidly and the country became the dominant economic and military power in the world. The U.S. also played a major role in the formation of the United Nations, which helped to establish the U.S. as a global leader.

Question 13

Which of these is a problem for American democracy as the growth of economic inequality increases?

Accepted Answer

The growth of economic inequality poses a problem for American democracy because all of the options listed (A, B, C, and D) indicate ways in which those with greater income and resources have greater influence over the political process, potentially leading to policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of the rest of the population. This can undermine the principle of equal representation and lead to a lack of responsiveness to the needs and interests of less advantaged groups.

Question 14

The distribution of poverty is random.

Accepted Answer

The distribution of poverty is not random. It is influenced by various factors such as economic policies, political systems, social inequality, and geographical location. Certain groups and regions may experience higher rates of poverty than others due to these factors.

Question 15

In spite of George H. W. Bush's private school education, his expressions of a fondness for pork rinds and country and western music during his presidential campaign were attempts to show his ________ roots.

Accepted Answer

The use of pork rinds and country and western music are symbols associated with working-class and rural Americans, which aligns with the ideology of populism. Therefore, choice A, populist, is the best answer.

Question 16

Which group was NOT part of the bulk of the United States' population when the first census was taken in 1790?

Accepted Answer

Catholic immigrants were not part of the bulk of the United States' population in 1790. The majority of the population in 1790 was made up of European Protestants, followed by black slaves and Native Americans. Catholic immigrants did not make up a significant portion of the population until later in the 19th century.

Question 17

What was the result that both data sources (the Gini coefficient and the P90/P10 ratios) arrived at regarding the inequalities of today's American economy?

Accepted Answer

Both data sources (the Gini coefficient and the P90/P10 ratios) indicate that the United States ranks high on measures of economic inequality and has been growing more unequal. The Gini coefficient has been steadily increasing since the 1970s, while the P90/P10 ratio has also been growing since the 1980s.

Question 18

Which of these was part of the United States' exercise of leadership on the world level after World War II?

Accepted Answer

All the choices were part of the United States' exercise of leadership on the world level after World War II. The stable dollar served as the basis of the international monetary system through the Bretton Woods Agreement. The United States organized the rich democracies into a political and economic partnership through the establishment of NATO and the creation of the Marshall Plan to provide funds for rebuilding western Europe. The United States also provided funds for development projects in the Third World through programs such as the Alliance for Progress.

Question 19

According to your text, one of the things that has always struck foreign observers of America is the broad consensus surrounding

Accepted Answer

The text states that "one of the things that has always struck foreign observers of America is the broad consensus surrounding American's core beliefs." This indicates that there is a general agreement among Americans about fundamental values or principles.

Question 20

Which of these programs is NOT favored by many Americans due to its attempt to equalize income rather than equalizing opportunity?

Accepted Answer

Welfare is the program that is not favored by many Americans due to its attempt to equalize income rather than equalizing opportunity. The other programs listed focus on providing opportunities for individuals, particularly children, to succeed rather than providing direct financial assistance.

Quiz 4: Structural Foundations of the American Government